Transporting the deadly ebola virus

Transporting the deadly ebola virus

Experts say the 2014 Ebola outbreak was the deadliest in history. According to the World Health Organization, more than 10,000 people died and 25,000 people were infected. It seemed the entire world was concerned about this outbreak. On this week’s episode, we discussed whether it was good decision to bring America aid workers who had contracted Ebola back to the United States.

Drake wasn’t a fan of transporting diseases from one hemisphere to another. Serena felt that the United States has the capabilities to handle these diseases and actually contain them, unlike hospitals in West Africa.

Interesting to note, during the treatment of the 11 aid workers who had contracted Ebola, not one of the health workers in the American institutions was infected by the disease!

We want to hear from you. What do you think? In the future, should we try and keep these deadly viruses at bay by not bringing infected people to the US? Or is it a necessary step for treatment and containment of the disease?

UPDATE: In Spring 2016, Ebola once again resurfaced in West Africa. According to the World Health Organization, Liberian health authorities quickly reactivated the country’s emergency response. There is also an experimental Ebola vaccine being used on those who were infected in Guinea. Here are the latest updates on Ebola from the World Health Organization: World Health Organization – 2016 Ebola Update